Proto talk:Half-Life 2 (Windows)/September 29th 2004 Build

Not A Proto

This isn't a prototype this is literally just the earliest compile of game at launch --Frying1Pans (talk) 13:35, 24 October 2021 (UTC)

If its a pre-final version (i.e. a version earlier than the first released one), then it counts as a "proto" on TCRF. --Hiccup (talk) 14:40, 22 December 2021 (UTC)

It is not a pre-final version, this *is* the first retail copy of the game. --Frying1Pans (talk) 20:53, 30 December 2021 (UTC)

So its one that comes on a disc? But is/was it playable without mods? If it isn't, then that is worth documenting. --Hiccup (talk) 22:20, 30 December 2021 (UTC)

It is perfectly playable from start to finish. --Frying1Pans (talk) 22:01, 3 January 2022 (UTC)

Ah, that isn't what I meant. I mean, in order to play it, do you have to do some sort of workaround to stop Steam installing patches? Even back in the day when it was first released (day 1 patches)? If so, then it should be documented as a prototype. --Hiccup (talk) 15:45, 4 January 2022 (UTC)

You can just play it out of the box. This is literally just the earliest retail compile. --Frying1Pans (talk) 20:07, 29 March 2022 (UTC)

Doesn't the disc require you to install steam and download updates? --Hiccup (talk) 20:56, 29 March 2022 (UTC)

There are no day 1 patches for Half-Life 2. I am pretty sure the actual copy requires steam for DRM, but the copy you can find floating around the internet has a remade installer and does not require steam. — The preceding unsigned comment was added by Frying1Pans (talk • contribs)

This isn't the final version, According to the Final Hours of Half-Life 2, the game was finished on October 13th, meaning this build is a prototype or possibly a beta build. --DerpDerp (talk) 02:55, 23 May 2022 (UTC)

"I am pretty sure the actual copy requires steam for DRM, but the copy you can find floating around the internet has a remade installer and does not require steam". So in other words, its requires mods to play? --Hiccup (talk) 13:04, 23 May 2022 (UTC)

This is literally just the collector's edition version of hl2 which you could've bought for (iirc) 80 bucks in 2004. Here it is on e-bay https://www.ebay.com/p/214709184 --Frying1Pans (talk) 19:47, 12 December 2022 (UTC)

Not sure how the price/where you can purchase it is relevant. --Hiccup (talk) 17:13, 13 December 2022 (UTC)

Because this is literally the retail copy. It's not a prototype. Half-life 2's release candidate was on September 16th, 2004 as per here https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2004/10/4281-2/. --Frying1Pans (talk) 03:19, 20 December 2022 (UTC)

If this version is not playable without workarounds/cracks, then based on other pages, it should be categorised as pre-final/prototype. Can it be played without workarounds/cracks? --Hiccup (talk) 11:23, 20 December 2022 (UTC)

It can't. Neither can any other retail build of Half-Life 2, no matter how old or recent it is, nor if it was sold physically or digitally. --Frying1Pans (talk) 20:44, 20 December 20

What do you mean by retail build exactly? Of course the game can be played without cracks/workarounds - you can buy and play it with Steam. I'm talking about "day zero" versions that were never officially playable, due to forced day one patches. Those should arguably be in the Proto namespace. --Hiccup (talk) 11:13, 21 December 2022 (UTC)

I mean retail build as in one you buy from a physical or digital storefront. This version was compiled after the game had its release candidate shipped out and was sent out to storefronts. --Frying1Pans (talk) 22:50, 21 December 2022 (UTC)

I concur that this should not count as a prototype, nor is that friends menu a cut feature. It's literally the gold build.Tamamo-no-Bae (talk) 06:55, 20 February 2023 (UTC)

The question is, is this specific version playable without hacks or workarounds? If it isn't, then it counts as a prototype per wiki rules, even if its not a "traditional" prototype. --Hiccup (talk) 15:12, 20 February 2023 (UTC)

It was when it came out. Obviously now it needs workarounds as Valve has updated Steam a lot with things like the Orange Box and Steampipe update. It still does not make it a prototype. It's not even pre-release, it's literally the gold build of Half-Life 2. Tamamo-no-Bae (talk) 16:45, 25 February 2023 (UTC)

It was when it came out? Okay it should probably go under versions differences then. But about the prototype thing - the rules say it doesn't matter if its a "real prototype" or not - it just has to be something not playable by the general public, that's pre-final. And keep in mind that gold builds aren't the same thing as released builds - gold builds can be rejected at the last minute. --Hiccup (talk) 18:10, 25 February 2023 (UTC)